Condemning the Island Ordinance, Parliamentary Leader of the PPP in the Senate, Senator Sherry Rehman said, “Both houses of the Parliament have met but this Ordinance was still not laid before them. There is clear mala fide intent on not tabling this ordinance before the Parliament. The entire opposition is united against this blatant usurpation of provincial powers and rights of indigenous people.
She said, “This is an attempt to encroach on Sindh’s land and a clear violation of the Constitution of Pakistan. Article 172 of the Constitution clearly states that any property which has no rightful owner shall, if located in a Province, vest in the Government of that Province. The Islands belong to Sindh and this Ordinance is a blatant attempt by the federal government to overreach into the concerns of the Province of Sindh. It is ultra vires of the constitution in more ways than one, which is why they are afraid to bring it to parliament but they will have to”.
“There are 300 small and big islands located off the Sindh coastal belt which the federal government wants to take under its control but they are forgetting that these are the property of the indigenous people living there. Their land cannot be taken away without their consent. Sindh’s people will not allow federal government to steal and misuse its lands.” she added.
She explained that, “Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act, 1976 confirms the opinion that nothing in that Act empowers the Federal Government to assume control over and vest in itself the ownership of the Bundal and Buddo Islands.—PR
